HOCKEY: Third title for St Norbert’s
The finals of the Spalding Primary Schools Hockey Tournaments were held at Glen Park.
Seventeen teams from 14 primary schools – around 150 youngsters in total – played in four graded leagues in a hugely successful conclusion to the season.
The teams were placed in advanced, intermediate and two beginner leagues.
The advanced league was closely contested with high-quality competitive games.
Ayscoughfee A got off to a great start with a 2-1 victory over title holders John Harrox then went on to beat St John’s 2-0 and Boston’s Tower Road 3-0.
St Norbert’s were made to work hard in their opening game against St John’s but a late goal earned them a 1-0 win.
Tower Road took an early lead in their second game but St Norbert’s fought back to win 3-1 and then beat John Harrox A 3-0.
This set up a thrilling final contest between Ayscoughfee A and St Norbert’s.
With both teams having won their previous three games with an identical record, it was winner-take-all.
An exciting and fiercely fought game between these closely-matched teams looked to be going to extra-time and golden goal.
But with just two minutes remaining, St Norbert’s scored to lift the title for the third time in the tournament’s seven-year history.
Although St John’s and Tower Road finished with just a point apiece, they can take great heart from the way they battled throughout.
In the intermediate league, Wyberton opened their account with a 4-2 win over St Thomas’s before going on to beat Tower Road B 3-1.
Eye also started with a win, beating Tower Road B 2-1 and then St Thomas’s 4-0 to set up a decider with Wyberton.
This tightly-fought contest ended goalless, giving the title to Eye on goal difference.
In the beginner A league, Gosberton Academy got off to a cracking start – beating John Harrox B 6-0 in their opening game and then Gosberton Risegate 2-1.
The impressive St John’s B team were held to an exciting 3-3 draw by Gosberton Risegate but then beat John Harrox B 6-1 to set up a decider against Gosberton Academy.
St John’s B turned on the heat to run out 4-0 winners and take the league title.
In the beginner B league, Weston Hills were dominant but made to work extremely hard for their 1-0 win by a determined Spalding Parish team in their opening game.
They went on to beat Surfleet (4-0) and Ayscoughfee B (4-2) to win the league with a 100 per cent record.
Ayscoughfee B and Surfleet were separated only by goal difference.
Trophies were awarded by Anna of sponsors Doodles Pottery Painting.
ADVANCED LEAGUE
Results: John Harrox A 1 Ayscoughfee A 2, St John’s A 0 St Norbert’s 1, Tower Road A 0 John Harrox A 1, Ayscoughfee A 2 St John’s A 0, Tower Road A 1 St Norbert’s 3, St John’s A 0 John Harrox A 2, Tower Road A 0 Ayscoughfee A 3, St Norbert’s 3 John Harrox A 0, St John’s A 0 Tower Road A 0, Ayscoughfee A 0 St Norbert’s 1.
INTERMEDIATE LEAGUE
Results: Wyberton 4 St Thomas’s 2, Eye 1 Tower Road B 2, Wyberton 3 Tower Road B 1, St Thomas’s 4 Eye 0, St Thomas’s 2 Tower Road B 0, Wyberton 0 Eye 0.
BEGINNER LEAGUE A
Results: John Harrox B 0 Gosberton Academy 6, Gosberton Risegate 3 St John’s B 3, John Harrox B 1 St John’s B 6, Gosberton Academy 2 Gosberton Risegate 1, John Harrox B 4 Gosberton Risegate 1, Gosberton Academy 0 St John’s B 4.
BEGINNER LEAGUE B
Results: Surfleet 1 Ayscoughfee B 1, Spalding Parish 0 Weston Hills 1, Surfleet 0 Weston Hills 4, Spalding Parish 1 Ayscoughfee B 8, Weston Hills 4 Ayscoughfee B 2, Surfleet 5 Spalding Parish 2.
